Adjustable foldable scaffold



Nov. 4, 1958 M. s. FRANKLIN 2,859,056

ADJUSTABLE FOLDABLE SCAF'FOLD 7 Filed Dec. 14, 1954 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 [IV1/ fig 11/ "um I "I,"

GP 4 Milo 5. Franklin 4, J8 26 INVENTOR. By Mm MWWEMW Nov.'4, 1958 X YM. s. FRANKLIN ADJUSTABLE FOLDABLE scm ow Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Dec. '14.1954 Fig] .4

Milo 5. Franklin INVENTOR.

h /mg United States Patent ADJUSTABLE FOLDABLE SCAFFOLD Milo S.Franklin, Marshalltown, Iowa Application December 14, 1954, Serial No.475,092

1 Claim. (Cl. 304-) The present invention relates to new and usefulimprovements in scaffolds adapted for use by paper hangers, carpentersand other workmen, and more particularly to a vertically adjustable andfoldable scaffold of this character.

An important object of the invention is to provide a foldable legstructure on top of which a clamping member is supported for a plankwhich forms a platform on which the workman stands.

Another object of the invention is to provide a laterally extensibleplank clamping member for securing planks of various widths thereto.

A still further object is to provide a vertically adjustable invertedU-shaped leg structure at the top of which the plank clamping member isswingably mounted for folding downwardly in a position parallel to thelegs for conveniently handling and storing the same.

A still further object is to provide a device of this character ofsimple and practical construction, which is strong and durable,relatively inexpensive to manufacture and otherwise well adapted for thepurpose for which the same is intended.

These together with other objects and advantages which will becomesubsequently apparent reside in the details of construction andoperation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, referencebeing had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, whereinlike numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which: v

Figure 1 is a perspective view showing theplank clamping member raisedfor supporting a plank thereon;

Figure 2 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical sectional view taken on aline 22 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a fragmentary and elevational view;

Figure 4 is a bottom plan view showing the legs folded against thebottom of the plank; and

Figure 5 is a side elevational view showing the scaffold in foldedposition.

Referring now to the drawings in detail wherein for the purposes ofillustration, I have disclosed a preferred embodiment of my invention,the numeral 5 designates an inverted U-shaped leg structure of tubularmetal and having a plurality of telescoping sections 6 at its lower endand formed with aligned openings 7 to receive bolts and wing nuts 3 forsecuring the leg structure in vertically adjusted position.

The top of the leg structure includes a cross-bar 9 which unites theupper portion of the pair of legs 11 and 12 to each other and on which aclamping member designated generally at 13 is swingably supported. Theclamping member 13 includes a pair of sheet metal plates 14 and '15positioned in overlapping relation with respect to each other, and thelowermost plate 14 is formed with a pair of transversely extending slots16 to adjustably receive bolts and wing nuts 17 extending downwardlyfrom plate to secure the plate in laterally extensibly adjusted positionwith respect to each other.

' 2,859,066 Patented Nov. 4,

ice a.

A pair of strap metal bearing brackets 18 have their end portions weldedor otherwise suitably secured to the underside of p1ate14',and the,central portions of the' bearing brackets 18 are formedwith bearing eyes19 in which the cross-member 9 of the leg structure is positioned forswingably mounting the clamping member 13 thereon.

The side edges of the plates 14 and 15 are formed with opposed channels20 and 21, respectively, positioned above the plate to receive theopposite side edges of a plank 22. The lateral adjustment of the plates14 and 15 enables planks of various widths to be clamped in the channelsof the clamping member.

Sleeves 23 and 24 are slidably mounted, respectively, on the legs 11 and12 and a pivoted brace 25 is connected at its lower end to the sleeve 23and is connected at its upper end to the underside of plate 14 adjacentone end portion of the latter. A similar pivoted brace 26 connectssleeve 24 to the underside of plate 15.

A U-shaped brace 27 is pivoted at its end portion to the sleeves .23 and24 and is formed with a transversely extending slot 28 at its bightportion to receive one of the bolts and wing nuts 17 at the'end portionof plate 14 opposite to the pivotal connection of the braces 25 and 26.The braces are sufliciently resilient to permit adjustment of theplates.

In' the operation of the device, when the scaffold is to be erected, theclamping member 13 is swung into a horizontal position at the top of theleg structure 5 and the swinging of the clamping member into ahorizontal position slides the sleeves 23 and 24 upwardly on the legs 11and 12 so that one of the bolts and wing nuts 17 may be engaged in theslot 28 of the brace 27 to secure the clamping member in its erectedposition. The plank 22 may then be placed in the channels 20 and 21 ofthe clamping member and two or more of the leg structures 5 and clampingmembers 13 may be provided to adequately support and brace the plankfrom sagging movement. The extensible adjustment of the lower legsections 6 enables the plank to be supported at a desired elevatedposition.

By releasing the brace 27 from the clamping member, the legs may beswung upwardly against the underside of the plank, as shown in Figures 4and 5, and with the clamping members 13 positioned parallel to the legs,so that the scafiold may be conveniently carried with the plankremaining attached thereto, or the plank may be removed from theclamping member and the legs and clamping member folded against eachother.

From the foregoing, the construction and operation of the device will bereadily understood and further explanation is believed to beunnecessary. However, since numerous modifications and changes willreadily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limitthe invention to the exact construction shown and described, andaccordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resortedto, falling within the scope of the appended claim.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

A scaffold comprising a plank, a pair of overlapping upper and lowerplates engaging each other and supporting the plank and havingconfronting channel flanges clampingly engaging opposite side edges ofthe plank, said plates being slidably adjustable relatively transverselyof the plank to adjust said flanges into and from clamping engagementwith said side edges of the plank, an inverted U-shaped pair of legshaving a bight portion beneath said plates, hearings on the lower platein which said bight portion is journaled for swinging of said legs intoand from supporting relation to the lower plate, and slot and bolt meansin said plates for 3 4 retaining the plates in adjustedposition'and-connecting 1,660,043 Nemeth et a]. Feb. 21, 1928 saidplates together for guided sliding adjustment. 1,672,502 Roth June 5,1928 1,725,168 Willis Aug. 20, 1929 References Cited in the file of thispatent 2,136,420 Edwatds Nov. 15, 1938 I 5 M chn ock Aug- 24, 205,722Brodie et a1. July '9, 18782 FOREIGN PATENTS 1,377,425 Milnes May 10,921 33,172 France Aug. 18, 1928

